494

DA/NF (right aligned)
403551 : Pilot Officer Walter Duncan MCALPINE.
MOTHER : Mrs. G.M. McAlpine of Christchurch.

Walter McAlpine was born on the 4th September 1912, at Christchurch and received his secondary education at Christ's College, Christchurch, where he gained his Matriculation. The sports in which he was interested included rugby, cricket, swimming and ski-ing. After leaving school he was employed in farm duties and at the time of his making application for aircrew training on the 16th January 1940, he was employed as a farm manager for Mr. T. Stephenson of Cheviot.

Pilot Officer McAlpine was enlisted on the 29th September, 1940, at the Initial Training Wing, Levin and on the completion of his initial training he was posted on the 28th October to No. 1 Elementary Flying Training School, Taieri, for his elementary flying training and proceeded on the 27th December to No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Wigram where his flying training was terminated and he was remustered to an air observer and reposted on the 15th April, 1941 to the Initial Training Wing, Levin. On the completion of his initial training as an air observer, he embarked on the 18th June, 1941 for Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme.

Shortly after arrival in Canada, P/O McAlpine was posted on the 6th July, 1941, to No. 6 Air Observers School, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, and proceeded on the 28th September to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, MacDonald Manitoba, where he trained on Anson aircraft. He embarked on the 7th January 1942 from No. 1 "Y' Depot, Halifax, Nova Scotia for the United Kingdom.